
Onlyfans can be considered a personal service business for tax purposes. This type of business is typically subject to self-employment taxes.
As a personal service business, creators are considered self-employed and must report their income and expenses on a Schedule C tax form. This form is used to calculate net earnings from self-employment.
Creators on Onlyfans must also keep accurate records of their income and expenses, including receipts for any business-related expenses.
Choosing a Business Code
Choosing a Business Code can be a daunting task, especially for OnlyFans creators who are not familiar with the tax code system. The most critical aspect is to determine the primary source of your business's income.
To choose the correct business code, you need to consider what activity generates the most revenue for your OnlyFans business. Is it the direct sale of content, merchandise, the provision of a service, or something else? For example, if you're an independent artist, writer, or performer, your business activity code might be 711510.
Some common principal business activity codes relevant to OnlyFans creators include:
These business tax codes fall under broader categories like administrative and support services, professional leasing, technical services management, and information services.
How to Choose a Business Code
Choosing the right business code can be a daunting task, especially for OnlyFans creators who offer a variety of services and products.
The principal business activity code defines the primary income-generating activity of your business, and it's essential to choose the correct code to ensure you're taxed correctly and can claim all the deductions available to you.
To choose the correct code, consider the primary source of your business's income. Ask yourself, what activity generates the most revenue for your OnlyFans business - is it the direct sale of content, merchandise, the provision of a service, or something else?
Some common principal business activity codes relevant to OnlyFans creators might include:
- 711510 – Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
- 519130 – Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
- 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
These business tax codes fall under broader categories like administrative and support services, professional leasing, technical services management, and information services. Selecting the appropriate code ensures you're taxed correctly and can claim all the deductions available to you.
If you sell physical products, either through your OnlyFans platform or another e-commerce site, this code may apply. For instance, financial products and services like commodity contracts might require a different business code.
Hobby vs. Business Income
The IRS splits income into hobby or business income, and it's crucial to determine which one applies to your OnlyFans content creation. If you classify the income as a hobby, you can't deduct expenses, and you'll report it as other income on the 1049 form.
The IRS considers factors such as actively seeking to make the venture profitable, tracking income and expenses, and a prior history of money-making ventures to determine whether the income is hobby or business income.
To be considered business income, you must list your gross income and related expenses or deductions on a Schedule C, which will give you your net income. You'll also need to pay self-employment taxes on this income.
The IRS will consider whether expenses like cameras, microphones, lighting, and clothing specific to work are ordinary and necessary for the production of income. If they are, you may be able to deduct them.
Here are some factors the IRS considers to determine whether your income is hobby or business income:
- Actively seeking to make the venture profitable
- Tracking income and expenses
- A prior history of money-making ventures
The IRS also considers whether the venture has been profitable in the last 3 out of 5 years.
Understanding Tax Obligations
As an OnlyFans creator, you're considered self-employed, which means you're required to report your earnings to the IRS. This includes social security tax and medicare tax, totaling a self-employment rate of 15.3%.
If you made more than $600 in a year, you'll receive a 1099 Form from OnlyFans, which will help you file your taxes. This form will show your total earnings from the platform.
You can reduce your tax burden by claiming business expenses, such as cameras, microphones, and lighting equipment, costumes, toys, and other props, make-up and beauty treatments, and fees for photographers, make-up artists, graphic designers, and video editors.
To claim these expenses, you'll need to estimate the percentage of business vs personal use. For example, if you buy $1,000 worth of makeup and use 75% of it for personal purposes and 25% for business, you can claim $250 on your tax return.
Keep receipts and a detailed log of your expenses to prove your business use in case of an audit. This will help you demonstrate how you used your purchases for business purposes.
Here's a breakdown of the types of income that are taxable on OnlyFans:
- Subscriptions
- Tips
- Donations
- PPV (pay-per-view) content
- Other income avenues provided by the platform
In many countries, you're required to report your income even if you don't meet the tax threshold. This includes countries where you're considered self-employed, such as in the US, where you'll pay a flat rate of 15.3% self-employment tax on your income.
Tax Forms and Filing
As an OnlyFans creator, you'll need to navigate tax forms and filing. You'll receive a W-9 form when you withdraw money from your account, and a 1099-NEC form if you earn $600 or more, by January 31st. If you're not a U.S. resident or earn less than $600, you won't receive the 1099-NEC form.
You'll need to complete Schedule C on your 1040 tax return form, which reports your profits and losses from your OnlyFans account. This includes filling in basic details like name and address, and mentioning your gross income and business expenses. You'll also need to calculate your self-employment tax using the Schedule SE form.
Here are some key tax forms for OnlyFans creators:
- W-9 form: filled out when withdrawing money from your account
- 1099-NEC form: received if you earn $600 or more, by January 31st
- Schedule C: reports profits and losses from your OnlyFans account
- Schedule SE: calculates self-employment tax
Filing Taxes Guide
As an OnlyFans creator, you're required to report your earnings to the IRS, just like any other source of income. You'll need to file a tax return every year, which can seem daunting, but don't worry, we've got you covered.
The first step is to understand your tax obligations. As a self-employed professional, you're responsible for paying self-employment tax, which includes social security tax and medicare tax. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, with 12.4% going towards social security tax and 2.9% towards medicare tax.
You'll receive a 1099-NEC form from OnlyFans if you earn $600 or more in a year. This form shows your gross business income, which you'll need to report on your tax return. If you earn less than $600, you won't receive a 1099-NEC, but you'll still need to report your earnings on your tax return.
To file your taxes, you'll need to complete Schedule C on your 1040 tax return form. This form reports your profits and losses made from your OnlyFans account. You'll need to fill in your basic details, such as name and address, and then mention your gross income earned from OnlyFans and your business expenses incurred.

To calculate your self-employment tax, you'll need to complete Schedule SE. This form calculates the self-employment tax you owe based on your net taxable income from Schedule C. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, so you'll need to enter your net taxable income and follow the instructions in the form to determine your self-employment taxes.
Here's a quick rundown of the key tax forms you'll need to file as an OnlyFans creator:
- W-9 form: This form certifies your identity and allows you to withdraw your earnings from OnlyFans. You'll need to fill out the form with your full name, social security number, and mailing address.
- 1099-NEC form: This form shows your gross business income from OnlyFans, which you'll need to report on your tax return. You'll receive this form if you earn $600 or more in a year.
- Schedule C: This form reports your profits and losses made from your OnlyFans account. You'll need to fill in your basic details, such as name and address, and then mention your gross income earned from OnlyFans and your business expenses incurred.
- Schedule SE: This form calculates the self-employment tax you owe based on your net taxable income from Schedule C.
Remember to keep receipts and a detailed log of your expenses, as you'll need to claim these as business expenses on your tax return. By following these steps and keeping accurate records, you'll be able to file your taxes with ease and stay on top of your tax obligations as an OnlyFans creator.
1040 Schedule C
You'll need to report your OnlyFans earnings on your tax return, and that's where Schedule C comes in. This form helps you calculate your net income from your OnlyFans business.
To fill out Schedule C, you'll need to note your gross business income, which is the amount stated on your 1099 Form. This is the total amount of money you made from OnlyFans, before subtracting any business expenses.
Your net income is the remaining amount after subtracting business expenses from your gross business income. This is the amount you'll have to pay income tax and self-employment tax on.
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, which includes social security tax at 12.4% and medicare tax at 2.9%. If you made more than $600 in a year, you'll receive a 1099 Form from OnlyFans, which will help you report your income accurately.
Creator Taxation
As an OnlyFans creator, you're considered self-employed, which means you're responsible for paying taxes on your earnings. You'll need to report your income from OnlyFans on your individual tax return every year.
OnlyFans doesn't withhold taxes from your pay, so you'll need to set aside a portion of your income to cover your tax bill. You can use the tax-free threshold of $18,200 to determine how much you'll need to pay in income tax.
To calculate your self-employment tax, you'll need to use the Schedule SE form, which requires you to enter your net taxable income from Schedule C. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, so be sure to factor that into your calculations.
You'll also need to complete the W-9 form when you try to withdraw money from your OnlyFans account, and the 1099-NEC form if you earn $600 or more on the platform. The 1099-NEC form will inform you about your gross business income made through OnlyFans.
Here are the key tax forms you'll need to be familiar with as an OnlyFans creator:
- W-9 form: completed when withdrawing money from your OnlyFans account
- 1099-NEC form: received if you earn $600 or more on the platform, informing you of your gross business income
- Schedule C: reports your profits and losses from your OnlyFans account
- Schedule SE: calculates your self-employment tax
Failure to pay your taxes can result in fines, criminal charges, or other serious consequences. So, be sure to stay on top of your tax obligations to avoid any issues.
Managing Business Finances
You'll need to get familiar with the different OnlyFans tax forms to file taxes correctly. The W-9 form is the first one to fill out when withdrawing money from your OnlyFans account.
The 1099-NEC form is sent by OnlyFans if you earn $600 or more on the platform, and it informs you about your gross business income made through OnlyFans. You'll receive this form by January 31st if you're a U.S. resident and earn over $600.
Creating a separate bank account for OnlyFans is a good idea for efficient tax filing. This helps track business deductions incurred and reduces overall taxable income.
Create a Separate Bank Account
Creating a separate bank account for your OnlyFans business is a crucial step in managing your finances. This helps you keep your personal and business expenses separate, making it easier to track business deductions and reduce your taxable income.
Having a separate bank account for your OnlyFans business allows you to distinguish between personal and business income, which is essential for tax purposes. As we discussed earlier, the IRS considers whether expenses are ordinary and necessary for the production of income, and a separate bank account helps you keep track of these expenses.
To create a separate bank account for your OnlyFans business, consider the following tips:
- Choose a bank that offers business banking services.
- Select a business checking account that meets your needs.
- Set up automatic transfers to move OnlyFans income into the business account.
By having a separate bank account for your OnlyFans business, you'll be better equipped to manage your finances and stay compliant with tax regulations. This will help you avoid IRS penalties and ensure you're taking advantage of all the deductions you're eligible for.
Step 5: Calculate Income
You'll receive a 1099-NEC form from OnlyFans if you earn $600 or more in a year, which will inform you about your gross business income made through the platform.
OnlyFans sends the 1099-NEC form by January 31st, but if you're not a U.S. resident or you earn less than $600, you won't receive the form.
To calculate your OnlyFans income, you can download your 1099-NEC form, which will list your income for the year.
You can make money from OnlyFans through subscriptions, PPVs, tips, custom content, and more.
As an OnlyFans creator, you're considered self-employed and must report your earnings to the IRS.

You'll need to calculate your self-employment tax, which is typically 15.3% of your net taxable income from your OnlyFans account.
To calculate your self-employment tax, you'll need to enter your net taxable income from Schedule C into the Schedule SE form.
The Schedule SE form will help you determine your self-employment taxes, which include social security tax and medicare tax.
Possible Creator Deductions
As an OnlyFans creator, you're eligible to claim deductions on your taxes, which can help reduce the amount you owe. These deductions are based on expenses that are ordinary and necessary for your business.
To qualify for a deduction, you must specify the percentage of usage for certain expenses, such as phone bills. For example, if you use your phone for 30% of your OnlyFans business, you can claim 30% of the phone bill as a deduction.
Here are some common deductions you can claim as an OnlyFans creator:
- Equipment for recording, lighting, and filming like cameras, microphones, lighting, and smartphones
- Software for content creation, such as Adobe Lightroom, Facetune, and PicsArt
- WiFi and internet usage for your OnlyFans business (specify the percentage of usage)
- Percentage of rent space utilized for OnlyFans content creation
- Travel and lodging costs incurred for shooting at a specific location
- Advertising and marketing costs for promoting your OnlyFans account
- Costumes, props, or decorative items for cosplay, etc.
- OnlyFans commission and transaction fees
Remember, the more tax write-offs you add, the less taxes you must pay. It's essential to keep accurate records of your expenses to ensure you're taking advantage of all the deductions you're eligible for.
Reducing Your Tax
As an OnlyFans creator, you're entitled to claim business expenses that can help reduce your tax liability. This includes expenses like cameras, microphones, and lighting equipment, which are essential for creating content.
To qualify for a deduction, expenses must be both ordinary and necessary for the production of income. This means you can only claim the portion of expenses used for business purposes, not for personal use.
For example, if you buy $1,000 worth of makeup with the intention of using it on video and photo shoots, but you also apply it to go about your daily life, you can only claim 25% of the expense as a business deduction, assuming 25% is used for business purposes.
You can also claim expenses like WiFi and internet usage for your OnlyFans business, but you must specify the percentage of usage. Similarly, if you rent a space for OnlyFans content creation, you can claim a percentage of the rent space utilized for business purposes.
Here's a list of common deductions you can claim as an OnlyFans creator:
By keeping receipts and a detailed log of your expenses, you'll be well-prepared for any audits and can ensure you're taking advantage of all the deductions available to you as an OnlyFans creator.
Tax Write-Offs Available
As an OnlyFans creator, you're entitled to various tax write-offs that can help reduce your taxable income. You can deduct expenses that are both ordinary and necessary for your business, such as equipment for recording, lighting, and filming.
To qualify for a deduction, you must specify the percentage of usage for expenses like phone bills or rent space. For instance, if you use your phone for both personal and business purposes, you can only deduct the percentage used for work.
Here are some common deductions you can claim as an OnlyFans creator:
- Equipment for recording, lighting, and filming like cameras, microphones, lighting, smartphones
- Software for content creation, such as Adobe Lightroom, Facetune, PicsArt, etc.
- WiFi and internet usage for your OnlyFans business (specify the percentage of usage)
- Percentage of rent space utilized for OnlyFans content creation
- Travel and lodging costs incurred for shooting at a specific location
- Advertising and marketing costs for promoting your OnlyFans account
- Costumes, props or decorative items for cosplay, etc.
- OnlyFans commission and transaction fees are charged.
Keep in mind that you must keep accurate records of your expenses to support your deductions. It's also essential to consult the IRS guidelines for business expense resources to ensure you're meeting the necessary requirements.
Influencer Taxes
As an OnlyFans creator, you're considered a self-employed professional, which means you're required to report your earnings to the IRS. Self-employment tax includes social security tax and medicare tax, totaling a rate of 15.3%.
If you earn more than $600 in a year, you'll receive a 1099 Form from OnlyFans. This form will help you report your income to the IRS.
Working with a tax agent can be a great idea, especially if you're unsure about setting up your business or what you can claim. National Accounts, for example, specializes in OnlyFans tax compliance and can help you maximize your return every year.
Here are some popular platforms that require tax reporting, along with their tax implications:
- YouTube: You'll need to report your earnings on a 1099-MISC form, which will be sent to you by YouTube if you earn more than $600 in a year.
- Twitch: You'll receive a 1099-K form if you earn more than $20,000 in gross payments and have more than 200 transactions in a calendar year.
- TikTok: You'll need to report your earnings on a 1099-MISC form, but only if you earn more than $600 in a year.
- OnlyFans: As mentioned earlier, you'll receive a 1099 Form if you earn more than $600 in a year.
- Patreon: You'll receive a 1099-K form if you earn more than $20,000 in gross payments and have more than 200 transactions in a calendar year.
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